Austin Marathon Expo 2026 Recap: Our Biggest Activation Yet
Feb 22, 2026
What took months to build ended in one of the biggest weekends we’ve had as a brand.
The 2026 Austin Marathon Expo wasn’t just another booth for us, it was our largest activation to date. From concept to teardown, this one demanded everything: long nights, last-minute pivots, and a full team effort to execute something at a size we’d never done before.
And it paid off.
Building the Booth
This year we didn’t want to just “set up a table.” We wanted to create a storefront experience inside the expo, something that blended an industrial edge with performance and endurance culture.
The galvanized panels and truss framing were a key part of that look. We were literally painting them the day before setup, unsure if everything would come together in time. It was a DIY build from the ground up, and there were moments where it could’ve easily gone sideways.
But it didn’t.
The end result was a booth that stood out — not because it was flashy, but because it felt intentional. The community responded immediately.
7 New Product Launches - Including Our First Half-Tights
We debuted seven new products at the expo, including our first-ever half-tights. By Saturday, they were sold out.
Seeing athletes take new gear straight from our booth to race day was something we won’t forget. The feedback was strong, the energy was high, and the demand told us we’re building in the right direction.
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be restocking and rolling these products out online so more people can get their hands on them.
Race Day: 30,000+ Runners
Sunday brought race day: over 30,000 runners across the Austin Marathon and Half Marathon.
It’s one thing to sell product at an expo. It’s another thing to see it out on the course being put to the test.
Watching athletes move through downtown Austin in our gear, from first-time marathoners to established competitors like Matt Johnson, Kendall Picados Fallas, and Dane Shaw, was surreal.
The expo was the activation. Race day was the proof.
The Team Behind It
None of this happens alone.
This weekend was the result of hard work, commitment, and a team that understands what it means to execute under pressure. As our lead athlete said during the weekend:
“Sometimes we have to do more with less.” - Darrell Noren, NSP Athlete
That mindset carried us through the entire event.
What’s Next
The momentum didn’t stop in Austin.
We’ve been invited to activate at the San Antonio Marathon, Houston Marathon, and Pittsburgh Marathon. We’re planning on San Antonio and Houston — and we’ll absolutely be back in Austin next year.
Next up is our annual Murph community workout (projected for May 25th), followed by a potential return to FitCon in Utah.
We said 2026 was going to be a big year and it’s only February.
We’re just getting started.
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Photo Credits: Miguel Cantu
